Social affairs minister calls for stronger prevention after assault in Marijampolė

Lithuania’s Minister of Social Security and Labour Inga Ruginienė has stated that merely reacting to incidents of violence among minors is insufficient, and that prevention must be strengthened following an assault in Marijampolė’s Poetry Park, LRT reports.

In the incident, one teenage girl severely beat another. Ruginienė emphasised that every act of violence against children is unacceptable and deeply disturbing. She expressed concern for the victim and her family, while also questioning why such situations occur in the first place.

According to the minister, immediate psychological support was arranged for both minors involved. Specialists have already begun working with the victim and her mother, ensuring continuous psychological assistance. The aggressor has also been provided with urgent psychological support. Authorities will reassess the situations of both girls and determine further assistance for their families.

However, Ruginienė stressed that organising support after such incidents is not enough. “We must pay more attention to prevention—emotional education, bullying prevention in schools, accessibility of psychological help, and early detection of problems,” she said. She highlighted the importance of families seeking help as soon as difficulties arise, noting that early intervention increases the chances of preventing harmful situations in the future.

The minister also underlined that responsibility for fostering a respectful environment lies with adults as much as with children. “Children learn from all of us—family, school, and society. Therefore, we adults must first demonstrate respectful communication through our own example. This applies to everyone—parents, teachers, public figures, and politicians. It’s not enough to just talk to children about respect; they see how we behave every day. If we want less bullying and violence among children, we must show more respect to each other ourselves,” Ruginienė stated.

Prosecutors have launched a pre-trial investigation into the disturbance of public order following the conflict between minors in Marijampolė’s Poetry Park. According to law enforcement, the victim was struck multiple times with hands, feet, and a phone held in the aggressor’s hand. Bystanders observed and recorded the incident, and the video later spread on social media. The victim was taken to a medical facility after feeling unwell, and her relatives reported the incident to the authorities.